In the beginning, there was the "super key" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_key_(keyboard_button) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_key_(keyboard_butt

In the beginning, there was the "super key" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_key_(keyboard_button) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_key_(keyboard_button). Its purpose: control the (global) desktop environment (versus e.g. Alt/Ctrl/etc, which control the currently focused/active/local application). Many "Windows key" shortcuts do desktop environment actions, hence the Windows key is the super key.